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November 2, 2007

Tek Or Treat

This Halloween, Jason Varitek gave trick-or-treaters something infinitely more valuable than a king-sized Snickers bar. The Red Sox captain sat in a lawn chair at the top on his driveway and handed out autographs, signing baseballs, hats, shirts, pillow cases stuffed with candy, and a green alien glove from a youngster's costume. ...

The Variteks had a small Halloween gathering at their home that included the families of two other Red Sox players - third baseman Mike Lowell and Doug Mirabelli, another catcher. After the guests left, Varitek's oldest daughter, Aly, 7, had an idea: Dad should go out and sign autographs while she handed out Butterfinger candy bars.

Surprise, surprise - Amy found the piece about Tek :) So, do you have an alert built into your internet system that spots Tek references or what?JK Amy, you know I've got a major soft spot for him myself. My favorite kids on my LL teams almost always end up being my catchers, too. Because my kid caugt, at least until he was too old to get awawy with being a left-handed catcher? Because I inevitably work with my strongest leader types to be catchers? Who knows, probably a little of both.I fully understand that in this day and age almost no one will be a career player with their team, but I hope Tek gets to finish his with the Sox

LG - undoubtably because they're both free agents who probably won't be back.The whole, "great team players, bonding together, don't mess with the chemistry" thing, you know?I love that aspect of a player and wish that it could be a major factor in choosing who to resign. It's a shame that baseball has become such a business, like any other, that you can't really factor those things into the decision. But that, unfortunately, is the reality, and to be successful, the decision makers have to act accordingly.

I had seen this story before Allan posted it (but he did post it) since I read all the Globe Sox stories every morning.

I have always had a thing for catchers. Carlton Fisk was my favorite Sox player when I first became a fan, and when I was a Mets fan in the 60s, believe it or not, Jerry Grote was my favorite (I bet no one here even remembers him). I think I like that the catcher is the strategy person, the thinker? Maybe I just think they look cute in all that gear? Who knows!

Clearly, Tek wants Lowell to stay, as he was holding that sign up during the parade. So they obviously are friends. And I guess catchers have a special bond, so not surprising that Mirabelli would be at his house.

For some reason, I really liked Bob Montgomery when I first started listening to the Red Sox. As Fisk's backup, and at the tail end of his career at that point, he didn't play that much, but in my mind, he always seemed to get a couple of hits whenever he played.

Clearly, that was not the case, but I'm surprised to see that he hit .300 in 1977 and .349 in 1979.

I am with SoSock on the team spirit thing. Yes, I want a team that wins, but given the choice between a team with players who act like teammates and a team like the Yankees with lots of talent and no team spirit, yeah, I would rather have the former. Winning isn't everything. Not for me.

team like the Yankees with lots of talent and no team spirit, yeah, I would rather have the former. Winning isn't everything. Not for me.

First, I should clarify that winning is certainly not everything for me when it comes to being a fan. But I think it should be the only thing when it comes to front-office decisions about constructing a team.

Secondly, everyone uses the Yankees as a shorthand for a team with no cohesion or friendliness. In their current incarnation, they do seem that way.

But the winning Yankees teams were not like that at all. There was tremendous cohesion and chemistry in 1996, 98, 99.

It's not like all Yankee teams have been are like the 2007 variety - nor all Red Sox teams like 2004. (Remember 25 players, 25 cabs...?)

Could it be possible that winning creates chemistry more than the other way around?

Could it be possible that winning creates chemistry more than the other way around?

Interesting point, and I am sure there is truth to that. Plus I am sure that what fans perceive is not necessarily the reality of the clubhouse. We see happy winning players. Maybe they hate each other once the games are over. Hard to know.

But I do look at the recent Yankee teams, made up of expensive imports like Sheffield, Rodriguez,Giambi, etc., and think that that is no way to build a team. It seems better to bring young players up from the minors who develop a sense of team loyalty than to risk lots of money to buy superstars who will be gone as soon as more money is available elsewhere.

To me the perfect example of hard reality and the desire to win over goodwill and sentiment was the Nomar deal. That told me what I needed to know about this FO. I will always love and admire them for having the guts to do that.

So...perhaps it's all in the front office's ability to pick the right people who will blend well with the team, the manager's ability to bring those individuals together, and the luck of the draw.

I don't know. I just hate it when players I like leave the team. As I have already established, I am a sentimentalist and would love for players like Tek and Ortiz and Manny to play out their careers in Boston and for the youngsters like Pedroia, LBJ, Papelbon, Lester, etc., to be here for the duration as well. Totally unrealistic, I know, but a girl can dream, no?

As I have already established, I am a sentimentalist and would love for players like Tek and Ortiz and Manny to play out their careers in Boston and for the youngsters like Pedroia, LBJ, Papelbon, Lester, etc., to be here for the duration as well. Totally unrealistic, I know, but a girl can dream, no?

If Ortiz was playing for another team, that would not be cool. At all. But I guess he might at the end of his career. Better for him to retire with his 6 rings when the Sox don't want him DHing anymore!

I guess Varitek counts as a Red Sox lifer, though he did come over as a minor leaguer from Seattle in a trade.

As I recall, I was upset by the Nomar deal at first. He was one of those players that seemed to be destined to be in Boston forever. Of course, in retrospect I know it was the right deal. It got us the 2004 title. Then I was mad the Sox let Cabrera go.

So...yeah, I get it. I just don't always like it. And I still really don't like the idea of ARod on the team. Other players would not upset me the same way. I was happy to get Beckett, Schilling, Dice K. It's just the ARod thing that really sticks in my craw.

As I recall, I was upset by the Nomar deal at first. He was one of those players that seemed to be destined to be in Boston forever. Of course, in retrospect I know it was the right deal. It got us the 2004 title. Then I was mad the Sox let Cabrera go.

So...yeah, I get it.

I suspected that might be the case, that's why I asked. You're a good fan. I want the front office to be more than a good fan.

I give kudos to the captain that is just about the coolest thing you could ever do for a kid, my son would have loved to have been one of those kids who had their pillowcase autographed. Too bad we don't live there.